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Indonesia makes last-ditch play to keep U-20
‘Don’t mix up sports and politics’ Jokowi says as PSSI chief flies to Zurich.
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Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chief Erick Thohir, gestures during a meeting with the association's executive committee at the PSSI headquarters in Jakarta on Feb. 18. (Courtesy of PSSI/-)
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occer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chief Erick Thohir is jetting off to Zurich, Switzerland, on behalf of the government in a last-ditch effort to lobby world soccer governing body FIFA not to move the U-20 World Cup out of Indonesia, as President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo seeks to contain an intraparty revolt against Israel’s participation in the youth tournament.
In a video statement on Tuesday, the President said Israel’s participation in the event would in no way change Indonesia’s support for Palestine, adding that politics should be separate from soccer.
“I can assure you that Israel’s participation [would not change] our foreign policy stance toward Palestine, since our support for Palestine has always been solid and strong,” Jokowi said.
“But concerning the U-20 World Cup, [the government] agrees with the Palestinian ambassador to Indonesia, that FIFA has its rules, which its members must obey. So don’t mix up sports and politics,” Jokowi said.
He was referring to a statement made earlier this month by Palestinian envoy Zuhair Al Shun that Palestine had no qualms with Indonesia hosting the Israeli team for the U-20 event
The President also stressed it was “an honor” for Indonesia to be given the opportunity to host a sporting event on the scale of the U-20 World Cup and noted that when Indonesia joined the bidding for hosting rights in 2019, Israel had yet to qualify for a spot in the tournament.
Jokowi said he had sent PSSI head Erick Thohir to Zurich on behalf of the government to negotiate with FIFA to find a solution to the political impasse.
